I've started work! Well... kind of. School won't start until the 21st of September, en-shala.
You probably need a little background. "en-shala" which is translated "God willing" means exactly that. Egyptians say it at the end of just about everything. And it can mean anything from "hopefully" to "absolutely... that is the plan... only God could stop us" to "probably not slash i have no intention of doing what you want but if God wills it than maybe it will happen" to "i really have no clue what I am talking about, but you are American and want an answer so I'll give you one, throw en-shala onto the end, and hopefully you will understand that i have no knowledge or authority and everything is subject to change."
Ok, see you at 3, en-shala.
You're water will be running tomorrow, en-shala.
I know how to get to your apartment, en-shala.
This bag costs 45 LE (Egyptian Pounds), en-shala.
I recieved my first schedule for our work year today. It has on it things like holidays, but apparently the holidays are all subject to change depending on the moon. The ministry of Education should let us know with a day or twos warning. The ministry has not yet released the days of the mid year break... so... as of right now.... I have a set curriculum that has to be taught and a list of materials that need to be covered.... but no idea about how many weeks I will have to teach them in.
We have gone into school each day this week and have been assigned our grades. I am teaching Primary 6... which is 12 year olds.... so I guess it is pretty similar to the seventh grade. I am actually pretty pumped about it. I am already getting wierdly excited about some of the assignments that I am going to give them and about putting on my super mean tough face for the first few weeks. The first book I have to teach them is King Solomon's Mines and I have set the first set of vocab words... I chose an adventure theme. The words are things like... adventure, passenger, dangerous, ... i am SUCH a nerd.
The school is a little on the shanty side. There is no AC... which I'm not going to lie... is a little painful... and everything is currently under construction. I went to the restroom today and realized that there was no door nob on the inside. TOTAL disaster for about 10 min.... I was COMPLETELY locked in and just had to sit there yelling for someone to come. Eventually this Egyptian man (who spoke no English) came in to do some construction but he freaked out when he heard me call out. He apologized and ran out of the bathroom, embarrased that there was a girl in there, and not realizing that I was yelling at him to OPEN the door... not leave the room. Eventually some of the other teachers had to use the bathroom and they came and let me out.
I do not get a classroom... I really only have a cubicle. At this school the kids stay in the same classroom all day and the teachers move around. So... I will be going to three classrooms a day and spending the rest of my time in my cubicle in a room that I share with all of the other English teachers. It is kind of nice to know that we will have that shared space so that we can lean on each other for support. This is definitely going to be a challenge.
I am really looking forward to school starting (and Ramadan ending) so that I can get into a normal sort of routine. I am not going to be able to do all of the things that I want to do... I am going to have to start being more selective about the things that I get involved in... but right now it is just a little difficult feeling like I am waiting for my "real life" to start.
Ok. Must run. I feel certain that I have left a lot out... every day here something wierd and adventurous happens. You all know I love it a little too much.
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3 comments:
Hey Amy!
When I first read your blog site you only had the first posting up. You have done a great job of keeping a journal of your adventures.
Your finding a good tour guide that will give you the whole story, not just the "company line", is a true gem and I would love to come and visit you there and take advantage of his services. In all of our travels I have always tried very hard not to be the typical tourist and to get off of the beaten path.
Ramadan is a bummer of a time for the "non-believers"; heck its a bummer for the believers!!
I have got to ping on you though.... there is a big difference between desserts(my favorite part of a meal) and deserts(the sandy kind). Sorry, but you ARE an English teacher.
Aunt Tricia and I took Gmom and Gdad to see "The Color Purple" at the Majestic with our new box seats. It was a really cool experience. You will have to come and do that with us when you are living at the artist colony here.
I am leaving for Tel Aviv today, so when I fly by Cairo, I will flash the lights to say hi.
Keep up the great postings and I hope that you can save this all and make a book out of it some day.
Love ya!
Amy,
Incredible stuff... what an adventure! I love your sense of humor. So many stories to tell, I am sure. In my mind's eye, I can imagine you in all of these situations, and quite frankly I get a kick out of even your blunders. You're experiencing a life that many people can't even imagine. How awesome to have journal (blog) through which to remember the highs and the lows, and to give the rest of us just a taste of the intrigue!
Much love!
Matt
Amy,
I laughed outloud (the deep guttural type of laugh that takes over your body) when I read about you getting locked in the bathroom. That is SO much of the type of thing that would, and has, happened to me! You may recall that becoming the big joke everywhere we went in Europe...I would come out of the bathroom and people would ask, "did you get locked in the bathroom?" Often, I DID, and had to start bringing you and others with me to stand guard so that I didn't have to actually lock the door. I am not going to lie...I would have freaked out had I been in your shoes and discovered I was in a bathroom without an knob on the inside, BUT....since it was you, and not me, I laughed my head off. (Can you feel the love?)
I can't wait to hear how your first week of school goes. You will be starting just as we are returning from Seattle...we leave tomorrow in the morning and will be picked up at the airport by the Peets. I will tell them HI from you.
Just read Tressa's blog (www.nicaraguantreasures.blogspot.com) and it was beautifully done. Hopefully when you get your camera attachment you can start adding photos to yours. Keep up the spirits and the blog...love reading it, and love you! Mom
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